Black beans are so awesome. Not only are they delicious, but they are high in fiber, a good source of protein, and extremely versatile in recipes. From salads and soups to cookies, and of course brownies – there are soooo many different ways to use them.

Black bean brownies have always been my favorite healthier treat to get my cocoa fix. Most recently, I’ve also been trying to limit added sugar and use natural sources to sweeten my treats. Dates have been truly amazing for this.

I used dried medjool dates, which are naturally sweet and rich in potassium, along with being a source of fiber. These also happen to sweeter and more moist compared to regular dates that are sold in the grocery store.

To make these healthy and delicious Naturally Sweetened Black Bean Brownies, firstly preheat an oven to 350°F. Then line a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with parchment paper, and spray evenly with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine flax seed and water. Mix well and let stand for 5 minutes.

Place flax mixture in a food processor, and add all other ingredients up until salt. Pulse until smooth, about 2-5 minutes. Place black bean brownie mixture into the lined baking dish, and push mixture evenly into all corners.

Top with optional walnuts and chocolate chips, or whatever else your heart desires. Some other options could be unsweetened coconut, pecans, chia seeds, caramel and/or pretzels.

Place in a preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until cake tester comes out almost clean. Remove from the oven and let stand 5 minutes, then place on a cooling rack until completely cool. Slice into individual squares, and serve and enjoy.

No one will even know these are flourless, vegan, and gluten free baked goodness, made from dates and black beans!

Naturally Sweetened Black Bean Brownies

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Average: 3/5

45 ratings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Author: Charlene Pors

Yield: 9 squares

Serving Size: 1 square

Ingredients

2 tbsp ground flax seed

5 tbsp water

19 oz black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup apple sauce, unsweetened

2/3 cup medjool dates, pitted

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp brewed coffee

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2-3 tbsp walnut (optional)

2-3 tbsp semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Line a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray evenly with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine flax seed and water. Mix well and let stand for 5 minutes.

Place flax mixture in a food processor, and add all other ingredients up until salt. Pulse until smooth. Place black bean brownie mixture into lined baking dish, and push mixture evenly into corners. Top with optional walnuts and chocolate, or whatever else your heart desires.

Place in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until cake tester comes out almost clean. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes, then place on a cooling rack until completely cool. Slice into individual squares and serve and enjoy.

Charlene, this is my first time visiting your blog — so hello! 🙂 This recipe caught my eye right away! I used to make a black bean chocolate cake back in the day and I’m not even sure I have the recipe anymore, so naturally these brownies are RIGHT up my alley. I have most of these ingredient and I just pinned it for future reference — it’s going on the menu for March. I’ll be sure to report back! Thanks for sharing and have a fantastic weekend!

Hi Justine! Thanks so much for visiting! I have never tried using black beans in a cake before – I bet that was delicious! That has me dreaming of a future recipe ;). I would love to hear how you like these Naturally Sweetened Black Bean Brownies when you do try them! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and looking forward to hearing back from you 🙂

Hi Adrienne!
Great question – the flax seeds was for some added omega-3 and fibre – it can be omitted without affecting the flavor. The coffee was however for added flavor – it can be omitted, but it would be depending on your preferences :). And you are right – you could use butter for apple sauce if you prefer! Hope that helps.
-Cheers